Exonerees Leading March to Abolish the Death Penalty

Death row exonerees Gary Drinkard, Ron Keine and Shujaa Graham leading the 2010 March to Abolish the Death Penalty. marchforabolition.org
Upcoming Executions

Upcoming Executions

Click for a list of upcoming scheduled executions in Texas.
Innocence

Innocence

The death penalty puts innocent people at risk of execution.
Todd Willingham

Todd Willingham

Todd Willingham was wrongfully executed under Governor Rick Perry on February 17, 2004.

Houston Chronicle Says Suspend Executions

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The Houston Chronicle agrees with us that executions should be suspended pending the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Baze case. From the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board:

With lethal injections suspected of being cruel and unusual and therefore unconstitutional and unjust, it is inappropriate for Texas to proceed with executions until the court has ruled. A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry, however, said executions in Texas would continue, as the cases under review affect only Kentucky.

That is a narrow and mean view of justice. Do the governor and the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles wish to look back on a series of cruel and possibly illegal executions carried out under a legal cloud?

Death row inmates about to be executed committed their crimes 15-20 years ago. Where is the harm in postponing executions for a few months until the court makes its ruling? After executing more than 400 people since 1977, Texas can afford to wait.

Carlton Turner Hours Away from Possibly Cruel and Unusual Execution Method

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Carlton Turner is set to die today by lethal injection, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court accepted a case out of Kentucky in which two death row inmates are challenging lethal injection as cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Constitution’s 8th Amendment. A judicious course of action would be for the state of Texas to suspend executions until the Supreme Court determines whether the three drug cocktail used in Kentucky, Texas and other states does not violate the U.S. Constitution.

In 2004, the Supreme Court accepted a case regarding the constitutionality of executing juvenile offenders. Back then, after hearing of the Court’s acceptance of the case, Texas scheduled five executions of offenders who had been under 17 at the time of their crimes and refused to suspend those executions until a court compelled them. The situation is similar now. Texas should not wait for a court to tell them to stop. Executions should be suspended now and the governor should set up a commission to study executions in Texas, including the issue of lethal injection as a method and the issue of whether innocent people have been executed in Texas.

From the Houston Chronicle:

Attorneys for a suburban Dallas man condemned for killing his parents hoped a U.S. Supreme Court review of lethal injection procedures in Kentucky could keep him from the Texas death chamber Thursday evening.

Attorneys for Carlton Turner Jr. scrambled to file appeals in the courts to tie his case to one filed by two condemned inmates in Kentucky who argue the three-drug process used in lethal injection is unconstitutionally cruel. The U.S. Supreme Court this week agreed to look at the procedure, which also is used in Texas.

The inmate will be forced into a chemical straitjacket, unable to express the fact of his suffocation,” the appeal filed in Turner’s case alleged.

Turner’s lawyers asked his trial court judge in Dallas County to withdraw the execution order. That request was refused Thursday, sending the appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Rejection at the appeals court in Austin would send the case into the federal courts, said Kim Schaefer, a Dallas County prosecutor who handles capital appeals.

Write Gov Perry to Urge Him to Stop the Execution of Carlton Turner

TDCJ Info on Turner

Artwork by Carlton Turner

Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000 [office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST]

Office of the Governor Fax: (512) 463-1849

For anyone who wonders about stays on the day of an execution here is a number to call:TDCJ Public information—1-936-437-1303 —-just ask if the execution is still scheduled.

March to Stop Executions Benefit October 5th at The Proletariat in Houston

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On October 5th The Proletariat in Houston will host a benefit show to raise money for the October 27th March to Stop Executions. This will be an early show starting at 7pm. It will be all ages and the cover is only $6.

The bill includes The Dimes – voted best indie band, best new act, AND winning song of the year honors in this year’s Houston Press Music Awards, Wicked Poseur – voted most likely to have released a “a measurable, pleasurable magic gall stone” by The Skyline Network and, opening the show, Program – voted most likely to have released a “nicely woozy concoction that blends Wolfie’s manic energy and synths with Material Issue’s more deliberate songwriting” by Space City Rock.

As you can see, this will be an amazing show! Come out, see some good music, and support a good cause!!

Execution of Michael Richards Delayed

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From The Houston Chronicle:

Lawyers for Richard went to the U.S. Supreme Court asking the lethal injection be halted because of claims Richard was mentally retarded but justices rejected the appeal late Tuesday afternoon. Attorneys then filed late motions in state courts to try to stop the punishment and the execution was delayed beyond the 6 p.m. CDT time it could take place. The death warrant remained in effect until midnight.

The legal wrangling came following a Supreme Court decision earlier Tuesday to consider the constitutionality of lethal injection in a Kentucky case. Gov. Rick Perry’s office, however, said Richard’s execution should go forward as planned.

Texas Should Halt All Executions Pending Outcome of Baze/Bowling

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to hear a case from Kentucky regarding the constitutionality of lethal injection as a means of execution should spark states to place a temporary moratorium on executions using that method until the case is decided. Read the coverage from the NY Times. The supreme Court has agreed to hear the case in which two petitioners claim that lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment.

Some states will probably choose to voluntarily put off executions until the case is decided, but Texas may try to barrel ahead and execute as many people as possible until a court tells them to stop. Texas had scheduled five executions of juvenile offenders in 2004 after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court had agreed to take up the issue of executions of juvenile offenders. The five scheduled executions were later put on hold pending the U.S. Supreme Court decision on juvenile offenders. The court ruled in 2005 that such executions were cruel and unusual punishment.

We call on Governor Perry to use his office to stop executions in Texas pending the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Ralph Baze and Thomas C. Bowling. Perry can stop executions by using his power to halt any execution for 30 days. He can also ask the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend a longer stay on any pending execution. He can also request that district attorneys stop requesting that convicting courts set execution dates and for DAs to ask courts to withdraw any dates already set. Perry can provide the leadership that persuades district attorneys and the judicial system to halt executions.

Texas district attorneys should also ask convicting courts to withdraw any execution dates already set.

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